Fighting Masters

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FightingMasters Title.png

FightingMasters MD JP TitleScreen.png

Fighting Masters
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Treco
Developer:
Distributor: Samsung (KR)
Sound driver: SMPS Z80
Genre: Action[1]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥6,800 (7,004)6,800e[2] T-24063
Sega Mega Drive
US 		$44.9544.95[4] T-24056
Sega Mega Drive
KR 		GM4026JT

Fighting Masters (ファイティングマスターズ) is a Sega Mega Drive fighting game developed by Aicom and ALU, and published by Treco. First released in Japan in December 1991, it was soon localized and brought to the United States the following April, and was eventually published in South Korea later in 1992.

Notable for predating the release of Capcom's highly-influential Street Fighter II, it generally received mixed reviews for its control style and limited gameplay, but has since been critically re-evaluated as an admirable early attempt at the fighting game genre.

Story

Fighting Masters MD, Introduction.png

Introduction

In the Japanese version, a demon lord known as Valgasu leads an underground campaign against a twelve-star galaxy to conquer it, defeating all of their fighting masters except one and enslaving them. The last fighting master must battle against the other, enslaved masters and Valgasu himself.

In the US version, an enormous red sun is about to go supernova within hours. An omnipotent race called the Primaries have the power to save one other race from extinction and holds a competition where one representative from every race competes in a tournament to the death to decide the winner.

Gameplay

Fighting Masters MD, Character Select.png

Character select

The game is a fighting game with an emphasis on grappling moves. Players fight each other in one-on-one matches in small arenas enclosed by walls. The fighter who manages to deplete the health bar of the opponent wins the bout.

Fighters move with Left or Right. They squat with Down and jump with C. Holding jump for longer jumps higher. When jumping onto a wall, fighters automatically bounce off in the opposite direction (which can be used to escape corners). They attack with B. There is no blocking.

Attacking when away from the opponent does a punch or a kick. These attacks do little damage but stun the opponent for a short period of time, allowing the fighter to move in closer for a grapple. Each fighter has a different attack for when they are standing, squatting, or jumping. Every fighter can do a dive attack by pressing Up+B after jumping.

Fighters grab each other when they are in close contact (from walking or jumping into each other). While grappling, either player can break contact by pushing the D-Pad away from the opponent or perform a throw by pairing the attack or jump button with a direction. Throws do big damage, which can be further increased by throwing opponents onto the ground or against a wall. Stunned fighters can also be grabbed, which is safer since the opposing player cannot perform a throw while stunned.

Modes

In single-player mode, the player chooses from twelve playable characters and fights a match against every other character, ending with a battle against the demon lord Valgasu. The player can choose the difficulty level (Easy, Normal, or Hard) and the number of continues (3, 4, or 5).

There is also a two-player mode for matches against another human opponent (players must choose different characters) and a watch mode for viewing a fight between computer-controlled opponents.

Characters

Playable

Some of the names were changed for the North American release.

FightingMasters MD Sprite Characters.png
 Larry/Dirk
Species:
Homo sapiens
Origin:
Earth, Sol system
Height:
5'7"
Weight:
220 lbs.
Attack:
6t
Max Pow:
33t
A human wrestler from the United States who was born and bred for combat.
Move list (Grapple moves)
Name Command Description
Back Drop Up+B, Down+B, or B during grab
Body Throw Left+B or Right+B during grab
Flying Piledriver Any direction + C or C during grab
FightingMasters MD Sprite Characters.png
 Elepha/Mastodon
Species:
Loxodonta
Origin:
Nomouse, Alpha Centauri system
Height:
6'0"
Weight:
353 lbs.
Attack:
5t
Max Pow:
39t
A mightiest member of an elephantine race, styled the Ivory King and the Master of the Trunk.
Move list (Grapple moves)
Name Command Description
Nose Launch Any direction + B or B during grab
Trunk Throw Any direction + C or C during grab
FightingMasters MD Sprite Characters.png
 Flamer/Equus
Species:
Horace Mane
Origin:
Horace IV, Voice Minor system
Height:
6'4"
Weight:
231 lbs.
Attack:
5t
Max Pow:
25t
A young and inexperienced kickboxing horse.
Move list (Grapple moves)
Name Command Description
Shower Kick Up+B, Down+B, or B during grab
Power Slam Left+B or Right+B during grab
Neck Crunch Any direction + C or C during grab
FightingMasters MD Sprite Characters.png
 Morin
Species:
Homo spartan
Origin:
Orb, Orion system
Height:
5'4"
Weight:
154 lbs.
Attack:
5t
Max Pow:
31t
An Amazon warrior who fights with two tonfa sticks.
Move list (Grapple moves)
Name Command Description
Hurricane Any direction + B or B during grab
Tonfa Throw Any direction + C or C during grab
FightingMasters MD Sprite Characters.png
 Beowolf/Grinder
Species:
Cyborg
Origin:
Mekka Base, Sirius minor
Height:
6'0"
Weight:
209 lbs.
Attack:
5t
Max Pow:
32t
A razor-clawed cyborg specifically constructed by his kind for this tournament.
Move list (Grapple moves)
Name Command Description
Breakdance Any direction + B or B during grab
Catapult C during grab
Rock 'n' Roll Any direction + C during grab
FightingMasters MD Sprite Characters.png
 Goldrock
Species:
Sentient Nuberak (Ganophyte)
Origin:
Rockhead, Draxole Axis system
Height:
5'5"
Weight:
999 lbs.
Attack:
6t
Max Pow:
40t
A living golem from one of the oldest races in the universe.
Move list (Grapple moves)
Name Command Description
Back Throw Any direction + B or B during grab
Eddy Throw Any direction + C or C during grab
FightingMasters MD Sprite Characters.png
 Tomahawk/Phoenix
Species:
Avian sapiens
Origin:
Newzpapre-traye, Alpha Centauri system
Height:
5'5"
Weight:
198 lbs.
Attack:
5t
Max Pow:
32t
An ancient phoenix, the only warrior from the docile planet of Newzpapre-traye.
Move list (Grapple moves)
Name Command Description
Back Drop Up+B, Down+B, or B during grab
Catapult Left+B or Right+B during grab
Piledriver Up+C, Down+C, or C during grab
Jump Kick Left+C or Right+C during grab
FightingMasters MD Sprite Characters.png
 Zrygunte/Zygrunt
Species:
Crustacia
Origin:
Sashimi, Beta Centurion system
Height:
5'6"
Weight:
242 lbs.
Attack:
6t
Max Pow:
33t
An anthropomorphic lobster with a tough exoskeleton and sharpened claws.
Move list (Grapple moves)
Name Command Description
Backbreaker Up+B, Down+B, or B during grab
Piledriver Left+B or Right+B during grab
Overhead Throw Any direction + C or C during grab
FightingMasters MD Sprite Characters.png
 Medusa/Rotundo
Species:
Amoebold Cerebellum
Origin:
Globulus Ting, Chetta-Zed system
Height:
5'1"
Weight:
397 lbs.
Attack:
6t
Max Pow:
41t
A rotund jellyfish creature.
Move list (Grapple moves)
Name Command Description
Backbreaker Up+B, Down+B, or B during grab
Headbutt Left+B or Right+B during grab
Overhead Throw Any direction + C or C during grab
FightingMasters MD Sprite Characters.png
 Drason/Xenon
Species:
Pyreptilian
Origin:
Drakkon Dra, Great Pyrion system
Height:
7'2"
Weight:
309 lbs.
Attack:
8t
Max Pow:
48t
One of a long line of fire-breathing dragons, banished from Earth thousands of years ago.
Move list (Grapple moves)
Name Command Description
Avalanche Grip Up+B, Down+B, or B during grab
Jump Kick Left+B or Right+B during grab
Flying Tail Blow Up+C, Down+C, or C during grab
Avalanche Grip Left+C or Right+C during grab
FightingMasters MD Sprite Characters.png
 D I O
Species:
Carnivorous flora
Origin:
Stem, Sol Twin system
Height:
5'5"
Weight:
220 lbs.
Attack:
5t
Max Pow:
32t
A sentient, man-eating plant.
Move list (Grapple moves)
Name Command Description
Chomp Any direction + B or B during grab
Overhead Snap Any direction + C or C during grab
FightingMasters MD Sprite Characters.png
 Eyesight/Uppercut
Species:
Drevon-Brante
Origin:
Bluegrass, Theta system
Height:
5'7"
Weight:
242 lbs.
Attack:
7t
Max Pow:
24t
A cyclops boxer.
Move list (Grapple moves)
Name Command Description
Atomic Uppercut Up+B, Down+B, or B during grab
Cannonball Left+B or Right+B during grab
Shotgun Blow Any direction + C or C during grab

Bosses

Fighting Masters MD, Sprites, Valgasu.png
 Valgasu
Species:
?
Origin:
?
Height:
9'6"
Weight:
666 lbs.
Attack:
?
Max Pow:
?
A monstrous, horned demon and the final boss of the game.

Stages

There are only three stages that are used when fighting most opponents, plus an additional stage only used for the final fight with Valgasu.

Fighting Masters MD, Stages, Jungle.png

Jungle
Fighting Masters MD, Stages, Jungle.png

Fighting Masters MD, Stages, City.png

City
Fighting Masters MD, Stages, City.png

Fighting Masters MD, Stages, Coliseum.png

Coliseum
Fighting Masters MD, Stages, Coliseum.png

Fighting Masters MD, Stages, Moon.png

Moon
Fighting Masters MD, Stages, Moon.png

History

Development

Due to the small ROM size (4 megabits), typical for its time, the game has limited animations, few backgrounds, and no voice data. But the game compensates its limitations by having 12 playable fighters.

Production credits

  • CG Design: Masami Takizawa, Nao.Yuki, T Shigemura, Ashin
  • Back Design: Wakatuki, N e n k o
  • Title Design: Ujita, Wakatuki
  • Sound: Masapi, Shioya
  • Assistant Director: Ramou Kobayashi, Hajime Kusano
  • Test Play: Yasuhisa Kimura, Akahoushi
  • Game System: Y a z a w a, N e n k o
  • Program: Y a z a w a
  • Thanks: Okamura
  • U.S.A. Staff: K.Adachi, N.Evangelista, R.Bell, T.Kowalewski, L.Huffman
Source:
In-game credits[5]


Magazine articles

Main article: Fighting Masters/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Fighting Masters/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
30
[6]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
65
[7]
Consoles + (FR)
72
[8]
Console XS (UK) NTSC-J
60
[9]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
91
[10]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
72
[11]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
65
[12]
GamesMaster (UK)
65
[13]
Games-X (UK)
50
[14]
Génération 4 (FR)
84
[15]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
70
[16]
Joystick (FR)
82
[17]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
44
[18]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
70
[19]
Mega (UK)
50
[20]
Mega (UK) NTSC
20
[21]
Mega Action (UK)
66
[22]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC
83
[23]
Mean Machines (UK)
81
[24]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
81
[25]
Power Play (DE)
17
[26]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
66
[27]
Sega Pro (UK)
30
[28]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
70
[29]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
20
[30]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
80
[31]
Sega Mega Drive
 61
Based on
26 reviews

Fighting Masters

Mega Drive, JP
FightingMasters MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
FightingMasters MD JP CartTop.jpg
Fightingmasters md jp cart.jpg
Cart
FightingMasters MD JP pcb.jpg
PCB
FightingMasters MD JP Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US
FightingMasters MD US Box.jpg
Cover
FightingMasters MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
FightingMasters MD US pcb.jpg
PCB
FightingMasters MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
FightingMasters MD US Card DIO Back.jpgFightingMasters MD US Card DIO Front.jpg
Card (DIO)
FightingMasters MD US Card Dirk Back.jpgFightingMasters MD US Card Dirk Front.jpg
Card (Dirk)
FightingMasters MD US Card Equus Back.jpgFightingMasters MD US Card Equus Front.jpg
Card (Equus)
FightingMasters MD US Card Goldrock Back.jpgFightingMasters MD US Card Goldrock Front.jpg
Card (Goldrock)
FightingMasters MD US Card Grinder Back.jpgFightingMasters MD US Card Grinder Front.jpg
Card (Grinder)
FightingMasters MD US Card Mastadon Back.jpgFightingMasters MD US Card Mastadon Front.jpg
Card (Mastadon)
FightingMasters MD US Card Morin Back.jpgFightingMasters MD US Card Morin Front.jpg
Card (Morin)
FightingMasters MD US Card Phoenix Back.jpgFightingMasters MD US Card Phoenix Front.jpg
Card (Phoenix)
FightingMasters MD US Card Rotundo Back.jpgFightingMasters MD US Card Rotundo Front.jpg
Card (Rotundo)
FightingMasters MD US Card Uppercut Back.jpgFightingMasters MD US Card Uppercut Front.jpg
Card (Uppercut)
FightingMasters MD US Card Xenon Back.jpgFightingMasters MD US Card Xenon Front.jpg
Card (Xenon)
FightingMasters MD US Card Zygrunt Back.jpgFightingMasters MD US Card Zygrunt Front.jpg
Card (Zygrunt)
Mega Drive, KR
FightingMasters MD KR Box.jpg
Cover
FightingMasters MD KR cartback.jpgFightingMasters MD KR Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

Main article: Fighting Masters/Technical information.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
  2. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "November 1991" (JP; 1991-10-08), page 14
  3. ↑ Sega Visions, "May/June 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 58
  4. ↑ GamePro, "June 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 30
  5. ↑ File:Fighting Masters MD credits.pdf
  6. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 81
  7. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1992" (JP; 1991-12-07), page 79
  8. ↑ Consoles +, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 30
  9. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 130
  10. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-15), page 86
  11. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 46
  12. ↑ Famitsu, "1991-12-13" (JP; 1991-11-29), page 40
  13. ↑ GamesMaster (UK) "Series 2, episode 4" (1992-10-22, 24:00) (+7:22)
  14. ↑ Games-X, "2nd-8th January 1992" (UK; 1992-01-02), page 22
  15. ↑ Génération 4, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 141
  16. ↑ Hippon Super, "January 1992" (JP; 1991-12-04), page 93
  17. ↑ Joystick, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 133
  18. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 79
  19. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "February 1992" (JP; 1992-01-08), page 89
  20. ↑ Mega, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 33
  21. ↑ Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 77
  22. ↑ Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 80
  23. ↑ MegaTech, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-20), page 54
  24. ↑ Mean Machines, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-27), page 88
  25. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 138
  26. ↑ Power Play, "5/92" (DE; 1992-04-15), page 148
  27. ↑ Sega Pro, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-16), page 63
  28. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 65
  29. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 86
  30. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 75
  31. ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "July 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 48


Fighting Masters

FightingMasters Title.png

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